Joyce Wagner

It is with both sadness and joy that we announce that our cherished mother and friend – Joyce Wagner (née Muenzmaier) – has left us to be with her husband once again – Ken, who passed away in 2000.  While our hearts are heavy with sadness because Joyce will no longer be part of our daily lives in person, we are happy knowing that she is with her Lord, her husband, her parents – Carl and Sophie – and with her Aunt Martha.  She also joins her father-in-law Roy Wagner and his wife Betty.

Joyce was the proud mother of two children – Gail and Richard – a Grandmother to Robert, Jennifer (Jason), Angela (Jose), and Sharon – and a Great-Grandmother to Robert, jr, Nathan, Alec, and Cerena; Adriana, Daina, and Dominick; Joseph, Jaime, Eppy, and Jena; and Jacob, Erica, and Mason – a Great-Great-Grandmother to Robert, Jr, Avaydia, and Rio, Ivan and Elijah, Za and Princeton, and Yesina and Charlie.   Family friend Jeff is thrown in here, too.

Joyce was born 19 Jan 1929 in Milwaukee, WI, the only child of Carl and Sophie (Clostermann) Muenzmaier, both of whom were 1^st generation Americans.  As a granddaughter of German immigrants, Joyce was proud of her German heritage, and of the fact that, while she was not brought up speaking German herself, she could still pick up on some spoken German, due to her Grand-parents influence, whenever she was out and about – what became known as “Joyce-German”.  Her father was a barber and she would shine when telling stories about her memories as a youngster living on Chambers St, and of walking to her father’s barber shop at 8^th and Burleigh.  Her maternal Grand-father Freidrick Clostermann was an ornamental ironworker who had worked at the historic Cyril Colnik artisanal blacksmith shop in Milwaukee, and Joyce’s paternal Grand-father Karl Muenzmaier had been a dairy farmer and cheese-maker in Dodge County.

A graduate of Girl’s Tech in Milwaukee in 1946, she married Ken Wagner of Milwaukee, in May of 1949, and started on building their own American dream.  First with the arrival of their daughter Gail, followed by the purchase of their 1^st house in 1955 – a small, brand-new bungalow near Grantosa Dr.  Next came their 2^nd child, Richard, before upsizing to a roomier house near Lynmar Terr, in 1966.   Joyce settled in to her role of being “super Mom”.   Selling the house in 1994, Ken and Joyce moved into a good-sized apartment without any more outdoor chores, and where she stayed until recently – when Joyce moved into her grand-daughter Sharon’s house, where she was lovingly looked after and cared for by her family.

Joyce and Ken had been congregants at Covenant Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years.  In addition to her family and church duties, Joyce also worked part-time for many years – first at Ben Franklin Crafts, then later at Janzer’s Religious Articles.

Many wonderful meals, events, and holidays will be fondly remembered by all at the Wagner household — Joyce and Ken were consummate hosts, making everyone feel welcome, and providing large amounts of food and drink, gathering around their large table in a small kitchen space, with card tables extending into the living room for the “kids”.  Her desserts were renowned, especially her “Cherries-in-the-Snow”, Schaum Torte, and her banana torte were always favorites; and, who could ever forget her go-to main course called “Schlum Gum”

Sadly, we must now say good-bye to Joyce, but she will live on in the hearts, minds, and souls of her friends, family, loved-ones, and all whom she touched throughout her life.  Joyce will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Ken at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held at Wisconsin Memorial Park, Chapel of the Chimes, 13235 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005, on Thursday, September 10, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Funeral Service at 2:00 PM.

The family and friends of Joyce would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and aides of Aurora Homecare and Zilber Family Homecare Hospice for their assistance in the later stages of caring for our Mom.  As well as those who provided services to help in making Mom’s life a bit easier and better – Jason for having built the ramp at the house; Neighbor Peter for all the years of shoveling; Landlord Leslie for all the years at the apt; Mark who looked after Mom’s accounts…….

May you rest in peace Joyce … aka Mom, Grandma, Great-grandma, Great-Great-Grandma, Clyde.  We will all miss and love you more than you may ever know.  No more worries, no more pain, only love for you from here to eternity.

In lieu of flowers, the family politely requests that you make a donation either to Covenant Lutheran Church, or to the charity of your choice on  Joyce’s behalf.